Europe freeze claims more victims

MOSCOW, Russia -- Ten people in Moscow have fallen victim to a cold spell that even saw snow fall on palm trees along Russia's sub-tropical Black Sea coast.

Central Europe meanwhile continues to battle snowdrifts from the worst blizzards in 15 years that have played havoc with and road and rail travel. Avalanche warnings were posted in mountain resorts.

Russia's Itar-Tass news agency said on Thursday the 10 victims had frozen to death in the last 24 hours in Moscow as temperatures fell to -24 Celsius -- the coldest this winter.

A further 39 people were treated for hypothermia after New Year celebrations, Tass said.

Aid agency Medecins Sans Frontieres said 250 people had died in Moscow this winter and called for extra help for homeless people.

News reports said power cuts had left whole districts in the world's largest country without light or heat, including the coal mining town of Dzhebariki-Khaya in far northern Yakutia, where temperatures were -40C.

In the Black Sea resort of Sochi, President Vladimir Putin's favourite holiday spot, workers cleared snow weighing down palm, eucalyptus and cypress trees after the second storm in a month.

"We have to clear the snow from the branches," a worker told RTR state television. "We have to save the trees."

A spokeswoman for local authorities said the region had avoided vast power cuts caused by an ice storm in mid-December.

Hunts called off

In Poland, hit by blizzards this week, skies cleared and temperatures sank to -20C. Five major southern roads remained closed, down from 40 on Wednesday. Rescue officials put the Tatra mountains on top avalanche alert after snowslides killed at least five people.

Authorities banned heavy trucks in 10 of Poland's 18 provinces after accidents involving lorries blocked traffic. Train passengers faced delays of up to five hours, PAP news agency reported.

Conditions improved in the Czech Republic after maintenance crews cleared 15-foot drifts on major roads following severe blizzards. Many minor roads stayed closed as did much of the country's railways.

Scandinavia recorded its coldest temperatures in a decade, with a cracked pipeline blamed for a diesel fuel spill at a refinery in Porvoo, east of the Finnish capital Helsinki.

Authorities in Stockholm offered drivers free weekend garage parking to help clear vehicles from snow-clogged streets. Thousands of homes remained without power south of the capital and supermarkets sold out of snow shovels and children's sledges.

Southern Europe was also hit by the freeze.

Temperatures sank to -22 C in northern Italy's Dolomites region and farmers said the cold had damaged fruit and flower plantings in northwestern Liguria region.

In France, flooding blocked several roads, including part of the highway between Paris and Strasbourg on the German border, and trains were disrupted between Metz and Dijon in the east.

Christmas hunts were called off in France, including the southern Camargue region because where ice on swamps had deprived birds of their food. Environment Minister Yves Cochet said birds were not fair game and should be allowed to "build up their health again."